Ann Arbor Pioneer boys basketball team tops Monroe 67-51 on Friday

Ann Arbor Pioneer relied on a cast of veteran players, led by Jibreel Hussein with 28 points, to carry the team to its sixth-consecutive win.

Aedan York scored 12 points, and Ethan Spencer added 10, to supplement the leadership Pioneer needed to grab the win.

“It was one of those games where our three guys that played a lot last year – Jibreel, Ethan and Aedan – made almost all of the key plays tonight,” Pioneer coach Rex Stanczak said. “They have been through the wars."

Bernard Pouncy led Monroe with 12 points and Nate Daniels added 11.

"Give Ann Arbor Pioneer credit for putting us in a hole early and shooting free throws well all night,” Monroe coach Frank Scheuer said.

Monroe cut the lead to five with a scoring run early in the second quarter, and made another run late in the third quarter, but Pioneer remained out of reach.

“We made a few runs, but they made runs as well to keep us at bay,” Scheuer said. “We couldn't get close enough to put a real scare into them, and you’ve got to give them credit for executing and making their shots."

Hussein was 8 for 8 from the free-throw line and led the team with eight rebounds and seven steals.

“We are a team, we're not just about one guy,” Stanczak said. “My fear is that everyone will rely on him, and I just want him to not get frustrated when he gets double-teamed.

“Don't get frustrated: have fun. That's my message for Jibreel. He is his own biggest critic. We do this for fun, and when you’re in the heat of battle, you can forget that.”